I need to buy a sun shade for my car. I’m in New Mexico and am looking for a high quality sun shade that is well fitted to the windshield that blocks heat extremely well. [more inside]
posted by jroybal
on Mar 18, 2015 -
5 answers

Our heading system got flooded and now there's tons of water in a couple steam heat radiators that are in the wall (not sticking out like so many). Every time it starts heating the water bangs up against the metal and makes huge, scary banging noises.
With a normal radiator I would shim up a side so the water runs out, but these are embedded in the wall. I need help identifying which part of the radiator to unscrew to drain it. [more inside]
posted by nathanrudy
on Jan 29, 2015 -
5 answers

This is my first winter in an apartment with radiators and I am trying to understand what to expect from them. So far, it pretty much feels cold all the time. Is this normal? [more inside]
posted by fingers_of_fire
on Dec 16, 2014 -
21 answers

We have an issue with the hot water supply from a 2004 Peerless oil furnace/boiler with tankless hot water. The shower starts at full temp, but quickly goes tepid (too cool for a comfortable bath/shower, but not ice-cold) and returns to full heat after 5-10 minutes. This is most apparent during the first two showers of the day or bath in the evening - subsequent showers or baths don't seem to have the problem to the same extent. This makes troubleshooting difficult, as we can't tell until an hour or so after running all that hot water to see if the problem returns. It's most pronounced in winter, during the summer the issue seems to go away. (Details inside) [more inside]
posted by Slap*Happy
on Dec 3, 2014 -
5 answers

I have roof cables installed on my roof to help with our awful ice dams. Problem is, it is very expensive just to leave them running all the time when I am at work. But if I turn them off and a snowstorm starts while I am at work, then the ice dams form before I get home.
Can anyone suggest some kind of a remote activation device. Ideally something that would let me turn on the cables from my phone or from the web. The system is already installed on the roof, so all I need is some kind of system to turn it on and off.
Please do not suggest modifications to the roof - we have been through every type of soffit, sheathing, roofing solution over a period of 20 years - these ice dams are just an insoluble problem and the only way to control them is with the cables. So I am only looking for replies that can suggest ways to turn the cables on and off remotely. Thanks!
posted by cmp4Meta
on Oct 25, 2014 -
9 answers

We have been trying to have gas service turned on for a week in our apartment. The gas company has been out three times, only to find that access to the shut-off valve is locked. Our maintenance man refuses to come to the building to unlock the door, since they have shown up after business hours/weekend. We pay for 24 hour maintenance. Our landlord is completely unsympathetic and won't do anything. It is getting down to 30F tonight and we have no heat. We are in NYS, if that matters. What can we do? [more inside]
posted by tippy
on Oct 4, 2014 -
13 answers

What is the best location for a wood stove in a one-story ranch house? The options are: an insert for the fireplace in the living room, a free-standing wood stove in the unfinished basement or no woodstove at all. [more inside]
posted by RingerChopChop
on Oct 3, 2014 -
11 answers

We are moving to the tropics (specifically, Cairns, Australia) in January. I have never lived in a climate like this before. We are also going to be first time homeowners. Talk to me like I'm five and explain to me all the things I should know about this situation before I screw up my house, electronics, etc. [more inside]
posted by olinerd
on Sep 22, 2014 -
12 answers

My boyfriend, who lives in Tempe, AZ near Phoenix, just had his 2000 Subaru Outback give up the head-gasket ghost. He's going to need another car, but neither of us know much about cars which are built to withstand heat. Please suggest cars to look at! [more inside]
posted by nat
on Sep 2, 2014 -
14 answers

I'm headed to Malaysia in September and plan to do some hiking around the jungle there. Because of the mosquitos, leeches and other critters, I'll need to cover up even if it is very hot and humid out. Does anyone have any recommendations for lightweight long-sleeved shirts and pants for a size ~18 woman?
posted by kms
on Aug 20, 2014 -
12 answers

We made some tie dye tshirts using Sharpie markers and rubbing alcohol. The instructions say to set the ink, put the tshirts in the dryer for 15 minutes--but won't I set the dryer on fire? [more inside]
posted by biscuits
on Jul 20, 2014 -
15 answers

I live in the SF Bay area and I'm thinking about moving to colder climates at some point, but for various reasons I can't handle a cold ambient temperature inside my home, even if I bundle up. In colder areas (specifically New England and the Midwest), how easy/possible is it to find apartments that are well-heated (perhaps buildings with a whole-building radiator system?) or other situations where I can have a warm (68-70 degree) home without paying through the nose for utilities? [more inside]
posted by needs more cowbell
on Jul 2, 2014 -
49 answers

I intend to buy a scratch & dent furnace from these guys, even after shipping (100 dollars) It will be much cheaper than buying a new one. I want to find some heating/cooling company to install it for me.. Snowflake details inside. [more inside]
posted by crawltopslow
on Jun 14, 2014 -
8 answers

We stay in a cabin for a week each July. The cabin has no air conditioning. This is not usually a big deal, but last year we had 3-4 beastly days in a row and I was crabby and had trouble sleeping. I'd like some tips on dealing with the heat and humidity. [more inside]
posted by soelo
on May 28, 2014 -
23 answers

I live in an open, large, loft-like apartment that gets face-meltingly hot in the New England summer. Easily near 100F in the afternoon. AC is impractical for such a big space. I've tried box fans, but I haven't found one that moves enough air to make a difference and even those were as loud as airplanes. An even faster fan sounds like a bad idea, but a much bigger and slower fan might just do the trick. Something like these, but preferably something that doesn't need to be permanently installed? Where does one find an enormous fan?
posted by the jam
on May 20, 2014 -
16 answers

Late last year a few friends and I started an informal bartering club. My contribution is baked goods, usually bread of some kind, but as the first heatwave of the season kicked in I realized I’m going to need an alternative to oven baking. Cooks and bakers of MeFi, hope me some bready recipes that I can make during red flag season. [more inside]
posted by Room 641-A
on May 2, 2014 -
24 answers

i want to document in order, the merits of different methods of estimating performance for copper tube aluminium fin heat exchangers.
ashrae standard documents the most valid methods of testing, basically with a primary method and 5 confirming methods.
to do a paper study, there are many ways to go about it.
what i want to do is review and collate these methods, as a background to the development testing my company does.
however i don't want to do the legwork if there is already an analysis that covers the general structure and merits of the theoretical methods.
is there anything out there that does the comparison for me?
posted by edtut
on May 1, 2014 -
0 answers

Mrs. HeroZero and I just moved into a lovely new Chicago apartment about two months ago. However, our landlady (who lives on the third floor of this three-flat apartment building) has passionate environmentalist feelings. Though we share many aspects of her politics, it's made certain aspects of living here difficult. [more inside]
posted by HeroZero
on Apr 20, 2014 -
18 answers

A steam radiator valve fail on a cold day flooded my apartment with a hot steam cloud, and a couple pieces of framed art - photo prints on 200lb/300gsm paper - bathed in it enough to be showing some buckles as it dried out. The pictures are behind glass, and there's still a tiny bit of condensation back there with them. Any tips on caring for / restoring this steamed art?
posted by Haere
on Jan 28, 2014 -
3 answers

I'm interested in trying a hot yoga class, but historically I've been one of those people that occasionally passes out from heat/humidity. Can (or should) I do this? [more inside]
posted by greta simone
on Jan 20, 2014 -
27 answers

Just moved into a wonderful new apartment that the lady friend and I are in love with. Fantastic neighbors, perfect location, amazing view. Except that we face the lovely California sunshine and the temperature difference during the day can literally be 20 degrees or more. I work from home quite a bit and I've actually taken to working on the stoop because when its 65 outside, it can be 85-90 inside.
What can we do to keep it cool? Deets inside. [more inside]
posted by GilloD
on Jan 18, 2014 -
14 answers

It wouldn't be Chiberia without a steam bath! Unfortunately, the steam bath is my bedroom. Help me figure out a temporary fix for a leaking radiator blow-off? [more inside]
posted by Westringia F.
on Jan 6, 2014 -
5 answers

I have a 150 watt ceramic infrared heat bulb similar to this one http://www.amazon.com/Zoo-Med-ReptiCare-Ceramic-Infrared/dp/B0002AQCPK that I use next to my desk to help keep me warm. It produces no visible light, only heat. Sometimes I have the urge to stare at it, can it hurt my eyes from the infrared radiation, similar to how looking at a regular light bulb can hurt your eyes? I am also interested in how these bulbs work, and the type of infrared radiation they give off if someone can explain it to me.
posted by john123357
on Dec 17, 2013 -
16 answers

We've just moved into a new place and it's now gotten cold enough to turn on the heat. Two of the radiators are really loud with air escaping, and often have visible steam coming out of the valve on the side. I've never seen radiators do this. Is this normal? Is this safe?
posted by msbrauer
on Oct 31, 2013 -
9 answers

I bought three bottles of Veuve Clicquot. They are thank you gifts after a big project. One bottle went into the fridge to be shared out in person. The other two I left in a room to be sent home with two different individuals. The room was then sealed off for 8 off the hottest days of the year with no open windows or a/c. Oops. Have I ruined them? [more inside]
posted by instead of three wishes
on Jul 22, 2013 -
7 answers

I'm trying to improve my husband's coffee experience with a birthday gift. His number one issue is that hot drinks get cold too quickly. He also doesn't totally love having two things to clean up (french press + coffee cup). So I thought I'd get him something nifty to solve these problems. Does anyone have recommendations? [more inside]
posted by lollusc
on Jul 21, 2013 -
26 answers

It's super hot and my dog is getting old. Today I soaked her gently with cool hose water. (She doesn't love it but tolerates it well if I am gentle.) I figure it will help her cool off both as the water is running over her and later as the water evaporates. I am reading online that wet dog fur traps heat. What's the real story?
posted by Camofrog
on Jul 6, 2013 -
17 answers

How long can a dog really stay in a parked car?
I am new to dog ownership and thoughtless. Today I left my black lab in a parked car for 90 minutes in the sun and 80 degree temperatures with a bowl of water and the windows partly down. Again, no idea what I was thinking. I now understand even fifteen minutes of that was pretty much a death sentence and feel terrible -- except that he seems fine. Is he actually fine? If not, what should I do for him? If so, how did he survive? I won't do it again either way, but I want to know if I should treat him for heat damage and/or better understand what happened.
posted by michaelh
on Jul 6, 2013 -
20 answers

On the book of Daniel chapter 3 -- when his friends were to be burnt on the fiery furnace -- Nabuchadnezzar commanded to have the furnace heated seven times hotter. Since at the time they didn't have a convenient dial to turn seven degrees up, what did they do to raise the temperature? [more inside]
posted by jgwong
on Jul 1, 2013 -
12 answers

The organization I run rents a large, old theater for once-a-week film screenings. Problem: the air conditioning is broken, and the theater doesn't have the capital to fix it before the summer ends. But we have screenings scheduled weekly through the end of August. Are there any good ways to keep a large space cool without a working AC system? (How did people keep cool in indoor spaces historically, pre-AC?) [more inside]
posted by bubukaba
on Jun 28, 2013 -
22 answers

I'm buying a portable air conditioner for our second-floor apartment. All our windows have openings at the bottom that are of the 2 panel slider variety, and no window unit will fit. Since I've never bought such a thing and I'm not very handy, I could use a few tips, especially concerning the feasibility of moving it from room to room every day. [more inside]
posted by Beardman
on Jun 2, 2013 -
18 answers

So, for the nth year in a row the air conditioning system in our office is busted. It's not even summer yet and it's already way too hot in here. I need some way of keeping cool and sane. [more inside]
posted by backseatpilot
on May 21, 2013 -
33 answers

Asking for my husband: I just got the Heat soundtrack, and it is intense and moody. I am looking for other soundtracks, or actual albums, that fit that bill. Obviously Blade Runner, and I am imagining a lot of Friedkin films, but the mix of dark and strong is something I would like to hear more of.
posted by dogmom
on Feb 28, 2013 -
17 answers

For a variety of reasons, the second half of August is turning into a better time for us to take a vacation than October, as we had originally planned. We are hoping to go to Venice. We're OK with heat and humidity. Is there some other dealbreaker I'm not aware of? [more inside]
posted by elizeh
on Jan 30, 2013 -
10 answers

My friend who has never been to the US has four weeks for an epic road trip/vacation. The catch: it's in July. What are the must see sights that won't induce heatstroke? [more inside]
posted by BusyBusyBusy
on Dec 5, 2012 -
33 answers

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